In Last Act Before Recess, House Passes Broad Assault on Public Health Protections

Congress pushes false choice between health and jobs

September 21, 2012

Washington, D.C. —

Today the most anti-environmental U.S. House of Representatives in history passed a bill, H.R. 3409, that broadly guts many of our basic environmental and public health laws, including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

The following is a statement from Earthjustice Vice President of Policy and Legislation Marty Hayden:

“Instead of offering legislation that would bolster our economy or create jobs for hard-working Americans, our leaders in Congress are pushing a toxic bill that comes at the cost of public health and our most basic and long-held environmental protections.

“House leaders seem to think that the only way to put people back to work is to give polluters free rein to poison our water, air and natural resources. Not only does this bill fail to create jobs but it exposes Americans to dangerous pollutants that cause sickness and cancer. This wrongheaded initiative is a recipe for disaster for public health and our economy.

“The House majority is clearly out-of-touch with the serious concerns Americans have about their health and the economy. It’s time for our leaders to drop the political warfare and instead work on making America more competitive and secure by investing in clean energy industries that will define the future.”

Contacts

Raviya Ismail, Earthjustice, (202) 745-5221

About Earthjustice

Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.